Smartwatches and fitness trackers have become increasingly popular, with a range of devices now available to track a number of vitals from resting heart rate to sleep patterns and stress levels. One in particular—the WHOOP 4.0—has been making major waves. As well as being recently spotted on the wrist of royalty (yep, Prince William is a fan), it's been worn by the likes of NBA legend LeBron James and golf star Tiger Woods.
But how did the WHOOP 4.0 stack up when Cosmo put it to the test? From its ease of use to battery life and functionality, we set out to let you know whether the subscription-only device is worth forking out your hand-earned cash over.
So, what's the deal with the WHOOP?
Founded in 2012 by Will Ahmed, WHOOP is now on its fourth iteration. The newest tracker boasts its most in-depth metrics yet, designed to satisfy even the most dedicated athletes. The tracker is small (33% smaller than its predecessor to be precise), lightweight, and promises improved results. While it measures most of the basic stats you expect a fitness tracker to measure (like calories burned), WHOOP also focuses on strain and recovery data.
How does it do this? The tracker measures how you put your body under strain during anything from walking to more high-intensity exercises, and rates it with a number out of 21. Then, as you sleep, the WHOOP tracker measures your recovery. After running these two scores through the algorithm, the tracker will help you decide how you should train the following day. It sounds complex, but at the core, the tracker is somewhat similar to the Apple Watch ring system.
Are there any cons?
As the WHOOP 4.0 tracker doesn’t have a screen, all of your data is stored within its app. While some may welcome not having an extra screen to stare at, I personally wasn’t in love with having to check my phone every time I wanted to see my vitals after a workout, even if the app did give a more detailed rundown of each day.
The WHOOP 4.0 has a lightweight, adjustable design, with the strap made from a knitted fabric material–totally different from the plastic or silicon straps that most smart watches boast. As the WHOOP needs to be on fairly tightly to accurately take your readings, I found the strap to be a little itchy (the skin on my wrist became a little dry). The WHOOP 4.0 that we received was grey, and while other colours and WHOOP-wear technology options are now available, I found mine to look a little dull and unchic compared to other fitness trackers, such as the Oura ring or FitBit.
How much does the WHOOP 4.0 cost?
Unlike other smart devices, WHOOP works on a subscription system, so you don’t actually pay for the tracker in and of itself. For $30/month or $239/year, you get the tracker itself as well as access to the app and all of its features on an automatic renewal plan. If you stop paying, the tracker and the app will cease to work. And if you do decide that WHOOP isn’t for you after your subscription ends, the stats can be transferred to other fitness apps like Apple Health.
How's the battery life of the WHOOP 4.0?
While the WHOOP 4.0 tracker claims to have a five day battery life, in my experience, I found it was closer to three days. Instead of connecting the device to a charger, you had to charge up a battery pack, which you then attached to the WHOOP tracker to charge. It made wearing the watch quite clunky and cumbersome; it was quite irritating particularly when I found myself charging it more than I’d have liked to.
Is the WHOOP 4.0 waterproof?
The WHOOP 4.0 is water-resistant for up to approximately 32 feet for two hours. Or, in simpler terms—you can shower in it, but you shouldn’t go scuba diving in it. The fabric strap will absorb water when you wear it in the shower, leaving your wrist a little squelchy.
WHOOP 4.0 vs Apple Watch—how do the two compare?
While they’re both leading fitness trackers in their own right, the Apple Watch and WHOOP serve vastly different purposes.
As there is no screen on a WHOOP 4.0, you either have to manually record a work-out on the app or hope the device detects activity. The app says it needs 15 minutes of “sustained, significant cardiovascular exertion” to kick in.
However, I didn’t find the WHOOP tracker hugely reliable at picking up my workouts. It was able to detect my short walk to the supermarket in the morning to pick up some milk, but not when I lifted weights in the gym (something I was working harder at, I assure you). It can be a hassle having to pull out and mess with your phone to record an exercise, compared to an Apple Watch which only requires a few taps.
If you’re a dedicated athlete with a significant fitness goal in mind (running a marathon, perhaps), then the WHOOP 4.0 tracker is by far the superior device. It offers far more thorough statistics, meaning it can offer far deeper insight into your health, training and wellbeing. However, if you’re more casual when it comes to exercise, something like the Apple Watch seems like a better fit. As well as providing a general overview of your fitness, it can also receive messages and calls, enable alarms, and complete a whole host of other functionalities that the WHOOP does not have.
Is WHOOP 4.0 worth the price?
Personally, as someone who does not have any significant fitness goals (I consider it an achievement to get up off the sofa), the hefty price tag the WHOOP 4.0 boasts would not be worth it, and I would instead recommend something more affordable that still gives you general, straightforward stats. However, if you want around-the-clock, dedicated monitoring of your health to help you flourish in your fitness journey, the WHOOP is totally worth considering.
Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper’s Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
